Folding-machine.



A. NOVICK.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MAY 21. 1911.

I/VVE/VTUR Abra ham NOVIC k ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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.A- NOVlCK.

FOLDING MACHINE. v

APPUCATION FILED MAY 3!. 1911.

Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. NOVICK.

rowmrmcuma.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3|, 19H.

Patented Apr, 1, 1919..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.4

INVENTOR Abraham Novick v I "21H ATTORNEY ABRAHAM NOVICK, OF NEW YORK,N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY- MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To UNI ED STATES ENVELOPECOMPANY, OF sPEINC IELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM Novron, a citizenof the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in thecounty of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented certain new aniluseful Improvements in F olding-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that type of ma chines which fold a blank intoa tapered open end envelop.

My improved mechanism isparticularly adapted to the folding of the typeof blank shown in Figure 3 in which triangular flaps as 101 are left onthe blank between the front flap and the side flaps for the purpose ofproviding a thickness of paper at the corners 104 of the finishedenvelop, which corner, in the ordinary type of envelop, is unprotected.

My new machine folds the blank described into an envelop, means beingprovided whereby the triangular flaps 101 are prevented from'draggingthe side flaps with them underneath the front flap when said front flapis folded. v

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of simple andrapidly working means for folding a blank into an envelop having taperedsides.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means for holdingthe corners of the blank between the front flap and the side flaps outof the way of the front flap and away from the body of the blank untilafter the folding of said front fiap is be- A still further object ofthis invention is the provision of means for urging a peculiarly shapedblank into accurate alinement for the purpose of creasing said blank,and

the provision of means for simultaneously creasing the blank along twolongitudinal lines oblique to the axis of the blank and one lineperpendicular to said axis.

To accomplish said objects, I employ the mechanisms shown in theirpreferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a planview of my machine, V3,? rious parts being broken away to show mechanismthereunder.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 11 of Fig. 1, showing the creasingand folding mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank to be folded, showing the lines onwhich the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed. May 31, 1917. Serial No. 171,872.

folds are to be made, and the means for alining said blank.

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing the blank creased andthe corners 104 plaited and held down in readiness for the foldingoperations.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. .4 and Fig. 6 is a perspective drawing ofthe same.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank and front folder after the front foldhas been completed, and Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 7-7 ofFig.7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the finished envelop and Fig. 10 is a sectionon line 99 of Fig. 9, the thickness of the paper being exaggerated forclearness.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the plunger plate showing thespreader fingers attached thereto and Fig. 12 is a section on line 11-11of Fig. 11.

nections to the plunger rod for operating same.

The main table 1 is supported by side frames 2, which frames carry mainshaft 3. Driving pulley 4, obtaining power from a source'not shown, ismounted on shaft '3 and rotates said shaft to actuate'the varioussub-mechanismsof my machine, said sub-mechanisms being operativelyconnect ed to said shaft by suitable cams and con necting rods as 5 and6 for imparting motion thereto in proper timed relation. .Auxiliarytable 7 is supported above table 1 by posts as 8, and has mountedthereon the mechanism. for urging the blank into alinement for creasingand the means for feeding the blank from an elevator table as 9 of theusual type to the upper end 17 ofthe creasing box 18.

he blank may be lifted from elevator table 9 by a picker 10 of the usualtypewhereby the blank is lifted from the stack by gumming ledges. Saidpicker 10 is supported for reciprocation by suitable mechanism in arch11 mounted on table 1. Stripper plate 12 strips the blank from picker 10on the upward reciprocation of. said picker in the manner well known inthe art. The blank is then gripped between movable jaws 13 andstationary jaws 14 oi the usual blank gripping operating,mechanisms 19mounted. on the reciprocating conveyers 15 running in grooves 16 intable 7..

The gripper operatingmechanism 19 on its forward stroke strikes stop 20on table 7 thereby bringing gripper jaws 13 and 14 together to grip theblank which has been brought up to stripping plate 12 by picker 10.Conveyer slides 15 are then moved rear- 'wardly until the main portionof the blank rate creasing position, alining pins 22v mounted on arms 23and carrying blades 24 are used. Said blades 24 are adapted to engagethe straight ed es of flaps 101 for straightening sa'idblan into properposition, the blank being urged forward by the oscillation of pins 22,against rear stop 25 on table 7 and side stops 26 on the same table,(Fig. 3) so that the edges of the blank on which the creases are to bemade are directly over the inside faces of tapered creasing box 18 anddirectly under the corresponding edges of thetapered plunger plate 27.Arms 23 are attached to levers 28 and 128 pivoted at 29 on table 7, saidlevers being connected by the cross connecting rod 30 so that they willoscillate in opposite directions, (Fig.1.)

Lever 28 is oscillated through crank 31 on shaft 32 supported in bearing33 on table 1.

Crank 34 on said shaft'32 is operated from main shaft 3 through asuitable cam as 5 and connecting rod as 6 passing through an opening 35in table 1.

The blank is driven through the creasing box 18 by reciprocating plungerplate 27 attached to rod 36 and supported by plun ger arch 37 supportedon table 1. Said rod 36 is reciprocated through rock lever 38 connectedto said rod and pivoted at 39 in lug 40 of arch 37, by connecting rod 41operated through a suitable cam on main shaft 3, (Fig. 13.) Spreaderfingers 42 are attached 3 to the corners ofvthe plate 27 at the narrowend thereof, and are so shaped that they hold the corners of the blankaway from the body thereof when said blank passes through the creasingbox, openings 43 in table 7 being provided for said spreader fingers andblank corners to pass through.

The creasing box 18 is made up of the two vertical inside walls 44oblique to the axis 106 of the blank 100 and vertical front wall 45perpendicular to axis 106, the bottom of said box being the hinged trap46. Stationary fingers 47 on table 1 are so shaped-that they fit thenotches in spreader fingers 42 I and coiiperate with said spreaderfingers to form a plait 104 in the corners of the blank between thefront flap and the side flaps on the downward stroke of plunger plate27, thelast part of said stroke causing said plaited corners to bepushed under said fingers 47 by fingers 42, to be held there until afterthefolding of the front flap 102 is begun, (Figs. 4, 5 and 6.)

The folding of said front (flap is accom plished by plate 48, cut awaynear the cen-v ter to pass front wall 4501 the creasing box and'mountedin shaft 49. Said shaft 49 is supported in bearings 50 and 51 and isoperated by 'crank 52 through connecting rod 53 passing through opening54 in table 1 and operated by a suitable camonv main shaft 3. Thefolding of the front flap 102 withdraws the plaited corners 104 of theblank from under fingers 47 and lays the protecting flaps 101 againstthe upstanding side flaps 103, (Figs. 7 and 8.) The side flaps arefolded down by means of folders 55 angularly disposed with regard toaxis 106 of the blank, (Figs. 1 and 2) and pivoted in bearing 56011table 1. Only one of said folders is shown, it being understood thatthis-description applies also to another folder symmetrically placed inthe machine. Said side folders are operated through levels 57 at tachedthereto, by means of hell crank levers 58 mounted onshafts 59 supportedin bearings 60 on table 1, said bell crank levers being actuated byconnecting rods 61 passing through opening 62 in table 1, by means ofsuitable cams on main shaft 3.

, The operation of my improved machine is as follows:

Blank 100 is lifted from elevator table 9 by guinmed picker 10 up tostripper plate 12, wherebythe plate strips the blank from the picker. Atthe same instant, conveyer slides 15 are in their most forward position,stops 20 closing movable jaws 13 and statlonary aws 14 of grippingmechanisms 19 together to cause them to grip the blank. Conveyer slides15 are now moved rearwardlyun grooves 16 whereby gripping mechanisms 19are caused to release the blank at a point slightly in advance ofcreasing position by stationary cams 21'.

Alinlng pins 22 are noit oscillated toward each other to engage themarginal indents of flaps 1 01 thereby urging the blank forward againststationary stop 25, blades 24 acting to straighten the blank againstside stops 26 into accurate creasing position.

Plunger plate 27 now descends and carries the blank through creasing box18 thereby caus ng the side flaps 103 and the front flap 102 to becomepartly folded and creasing the blank alon two edges oblique to the axis106 I and one e ge perpendicular to said axis, at the same time thatspreader fingers 42 hold part of flaps 101 away from the body of theblank. The last part of the downward motion of plate 27 presses thecreased blank -on to creasing box bottom 46 while spreader fingers 42cooperate with fingers 47 to plait part of flaps 101 and press theplaits formed underneath said fingers 47, whereby the plaits aretemporarily held away from the body of the blank, said blank being leftin the posi-.

tion shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Plunger plate 27 having been raised out ofthe way, front flap folder 48 is lowered by the rotation of shaft 49carryin flap 102 down over the portion of the blan which rests on bottom46 and withdrawing the plaits from-under fingers 47, at the same timecreasing flaps 101 on a line continuous with the line on which the sideflaps are creased. Side folders 55 are now operated to fold the gummedside flaps 103 on to front flap 102 thereby formin completed envelop105.

As the blank is forced through the openflaps l01outwardly, forming afold or plait 104, Fig. 4, which is crowded past the fingers 47; saidplait, 'by the resiliency of the paper, springing beneath the stationaryfin-- gers 47, as represented in Fig. 4. As the front fiapis folded bythe folder 48, as rep resented in Fig, 7, the flaps 101 are drawn inagainst the side flaps 103, taking up the plait which has been heldunder the fingers 47 and forming creases between the flaps 101 and 102.The triangular flaps 101 are prevented by the fingers 47 from formingplaits between the front flap 102 and the side flaps 103, and-as thefront flap is folded, the flaps 101 are drawn taut against the innersides of the side flaps and interposed between them and the front flap102. a

What I claim is: 1. In an envelop folding machine of the classdescribed, a creasing table, means for moving an envelop blank on saidtable and auxiliary means for continuing the move-.

'- mentof the blank on said table, comprising a pair of studs journaledon each side of the path of the blank, arms carried by said studs andswinging in a plane parallel with the plane of the creasing table, pinscarried by said arms engaging marginal indents in the edges of theblank, and means for oscillating said studs in opposite directions.

2. The combination in a machine for folding an envelop blank having sideflaps and a front flap with triangular flaps extending from the sideflaps upon each'side of the front flap, of means for creasing the sideflaps and front flap and forming a plait in said triangular flaps, andmeans for holding said plait until the front fian is. folded.

3. In a machine for folding an envelop blank having side flaps, a frontflap and triangular flaps extending from said side flaps on each side ofsaid front flap, means for folding the blank, comprising a table havingan opening corresponding to the completed envelop, a plunger for forcingthe blank through said opening, spreader fingers carried by said plungerand projecting over said triangular flaps, said table having openingsfor said fingers, and means for folding the front and side flaps of theblank. 4. In an envelop folding machine of the class described, acreasing table, means for squaring and positioning an envelop blank onsaid table, comprising stops, arms on each side of.-the blank, means forswinging said arms'in opposite directions in a plane parallel with thecreasing table, pins carried by said arms for engaging the marginalindents I in the edges of the blank to move the blank against saidstops. 1

' 5. In an envelop folding machine of the i class described, a creasingtable, means for squaring and positioning an envelop blank on saidtable, comprising stops, arms on each slde of the blank, pins carried bysaid arms, for engaging the marginal indents of the blank, bladescarried by said arms for engaging the straight edges of the blank, andmeans for swinging said arms in 'a plane parallel with the table and inopposite directions to move the blank against said stops.

- 6. In a machine for folding an envelop blank having side flaps, afront flap and tri angular flaps extending from the side flaps on eachside of the front flap and integral therewith, the combination of. meansfor forming a plait in each of said triangular flaps prior to the finalfolding of the front flap, means for folding the flap, and means forfolding the side flaps in the order named. 7. In a folding machine, thecombination of means for feeding a blank, oscillatory alining pushersadapted for engaging the. marginal indents of said blank and for urgmgsaid blank into alinement for creasing,

means for creasing said blank, a reciprocatlng spreader finger adaptedto engage and hold a corner of said blank away from f the body of saidblank, a stationary finger adapted to cooperate with said spreaderfingel for plaiting said corner, for receiving sald plaited cornerthereunder and for-holdingthe plait away from the body of the blankuntil after the folding of the front tapered creasing box havingopenings thereto and pro]ecting from the corners ofsaid in for allowingsaid plunger plate and spreader fingers to pass through and Sta-- fromthe body of said blank during further 3 operation thereon.

101* 7 ing a blank, oscillatory alining pushers 9. In a folding machine,means for feedadapted for engaging the marginal indents in said blankand for urging said blank into alinement for creasing, ataperedreciprocating plunger plate, spreader fingers attached plate at thenarrow end thereof, a tapered creasing box having openings for allowingsaid plunger-plate and said spreader fingers to pass through, stationaryfingers adapted to cooperate with said spreader fingers for plaiting thecorners of a blank between the front flap and the side flaps, forreceiving said plaited corners thereunder and for holding the plait awayfrom the body of said blank during further operation thereon,

means for folding the front flap and means for folding the side flaps.

10. In a folding machine, means for feeding a blank, means for aliningsaid blank, a

tapered reciprocating plunger plate, spreader fingers attached to andprojecting from the corners of said plate at the narrow end thereof, atapered creasing box cooperating with said plunger plate for creasingsaid blank, said creasing box having openings therein for allowing saidplunger plate and spreader fingers to pass through, stationary fingersadapted to cooperate with said spreader fingers for plaiting the cornersof said blank between the front flap and the side flaps, for receivingsaid plaited corners thereunder and for holdin the plait away from thebody of said blan until after the front flap is folded, means forfolding the front flap whereby the plaits are straightened against theside flaps and means for folding the side flaps.

11. In a folding machine, a tapered reciprocating plunger plate, atapered creasing box for cooperating with said plunger plate for makingtwo longitudinal. creases in a blank oblique to the axis of said blankand one transverse crease in said blank and means for plaiting thecorners of said blank between the front flap and the side flaps and forholding the plaits away from the body of rocating plunger plate, atapered creasing box for cooperating with said plunger plate for makingtwo longitudinal creases in a blank oblique to the axis of said blankand one transverse crease in said blank, means 5 for plaiting thecorners of said blankbetween the front flap and the side flaps and forholding the plaits away from the body of said blank until after thefolding of the front flap is begun, means for folding the front flap onsaid transverse crease whereby the plaits are flattened against the sideflaps and means for folding the side flaps on said longitudinal creases.

13. In a folding machine, means for feeding a blank, means for aliningsaid blank, a tapered reciprocating plunger plat-e, spreader fingersattached to and projecting from the corners of said plate at the narrowend thereof, a tapered creasing box cooperating so with said plungerplate for making two longitudinal creases in' said blank oblique to theaxis of said blank and one transverse crease in said blank, saidcreasing box having openings therein for allowing said plunger plate andspreader fingers to pass through, stationary fingers adapted tocooperate-with 7 said spreader fingers for plaiting the corners of saidblank between the front flap and the side flaps, for receiving theplaited corners thereunder and for holding the plaits away from thebody'of the blank until after the front flap is folded, means forfolding the front flap.on said transverse crease whereby the plaits arestraightenedagainst the side flaps and means for folding the side flapson said longitudinalcreases.

.side flaps and for holding said plaits away from the body of the blankuntil after the folding of the front flap is begun, means for foldingthe front flap on said transverse crease whereby the plaits areflattened against the side flaps and means for folding the side flaps onsaid longitudinal creases.

Signed at the cityof New York; in the county of New York, and State ofNew York, this 28th day of May, A. D. 1917.

'ABRAHAM NOVICK.

